••••• Barbed Words
At the highest levels of Courtoisie, a Spina’s words alone are deadly weapons. Even if his opponents attack with steel, he can turn their blades aside with a few wellchosen quips, belittling their abilities without even resorting to harsh language.
A Spina using this power does not fight physically. Instead, he chastises and demoralizes his foes’ very flesh with his words. Victims may cough up Vitae or suffer terrible chest and head pains.
Indeed, it is not even necessary for the Kindred to move, or be able to move, to use this power, as long as he can speak. Ferrand, a European Spina elder, is renowned for dispatching his enemies without raising his body from his chair or his voice above a gentle murmur. On one occasion, he defeated and rendered torpid a Sanctified assassin without leaving the game of chess he was playing against the assassin’s employer. He won the chess match, as well.
A Spina using this power does not fight physically. Instead, he chastises and demoralizes his foes’ very flesh with his words. Victims may cough up Vitae or suffer terrible chest and head pains.
Indeed, it is not even necessary for the Kindred to move, or be able to move, to use this power, as long as he can speak. Ferrand, a European Spina elder, is renowned for dispatching his enemies without raising his body from his chair or his voice above a gentle murmur. On one occasion, he defeated and rendered torpid a Sanctified assassin without leaving the game of chess he was playing against the assassin’s employer. He won the chess match, as well.
Effect
Dramatic Failure: The character is unable to muster the supernatural presence to hurt his foe. The Vitae spent is wasted, and this power may not be used on that same target for the rest of the night.
Failure: The Spina fails to injure his target. The Vitae spent is wasted.
Success: The Spina’s words penetrate the sturdy will of his target. Each success causes the subject vampire one point of lethal damage as his insides wither and split from the destructive force of the Kindred’s mystic voice.
Exceptional Success: An exceptional success grants no special result beyond the formidable damage dealt to the subject.
Failure: The Spina fails to injure his target. The Vitae spent is wasted.
Success: The Spina’s words penetrate the sturdy will of his target. Each success causes the subject vampire one point of lethal damage as his insides wither and split from the destructive force of the Kindred’s mystic voice.
Exceptional Success: An exceptional success grants no special result beyond the formidable damage dealt to the subject.
Material Components
Cost: 1 Vitae
Gestures & Ritual
Dice Pool: Presence + Intimidation + Courtoisie – the higher of the subject’s Composure or Resolve
Related Discipline
Effect Casting Time
Instant
Level
5
Applied Restriction
The Spina must be able to see his target directly to use this power, but it is not necessary for the target to see the Spina.
The real disadvantage of this power is that it is not possible to use weapons while fighting in this manner, so the vampire does not get the benefit of any weapon bonuses or effects.
This power can only be used on vampires.
Modifier | Situation –1 to –4 | The character is difficult for the target to hear.
The real disadvantage of this power is that it is not possible to use weapons while fighting in this manner, so the vampire does not get the benefit of any weapon bonuses or effects.
This power can only be used on vampires.
Modifier | Situation –1 to –4 | The character is difficult for the target to hear.